Report: Jennings looking for $12 million a year

Mar. 1, 2013

Greg Jennings. (Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette Media)

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The latest report on Greg Jennings’ hopes for free agency in effect says he wants to be the third-highest paid receiver in the NFL at an average of $12 million a season.

Jennings will be a free agent on March 12 unless the Packers use their franchise tag on him by the March 4 deadline, which appears possible but not likely.

Either way, ProFootballTalk.com reported today that Jennings is shooting for a deal in free agency that averages $12 million a year. Based on average pay per year, Detroit’s Calvin Johnson is the league’s highest-paid receiver $16.5 million, followed by Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald at $15 million and Tampa Bay’s Vincent Jackson at $11 million.

Whether Jennings can command that on the market is another matter. Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace appears to be the most coveted receiver available because of his top-end speed and age (26) and is the most likely player to surpass Jackson this year. Jennings, who is 29, appears to be in the next tier of receivers along with New England’s Wes Welker (31) and Kansas City’s Dwayne Bowe (28).

The factors that could soften Jenkins’ market are his ‘tweener age and recent injury history – he missed the final three games of 2011because of a knee injury and eight games last season because of a core muscle tear.